Professor Christopher Pennington, 1946–2002
1
IN MEMORIAM Professor Christopher Pennington, 1946 –2002 The world of clinical nutrition will be greatly saddened to learn of the death of Chris Pennington. Chris Pennington was the only son of a Welsh Methodist minister, and he grew up in Wales and the West Country. He studied medicine at the Uni- versity of Manchester, graduat- ing in 1970, followed by an MD in 1977. In the meantime he gained his MRCP (UK) in 1972. He became an FRCP (Ed- inburgh) in 1983 and was elected FRCP (London) in 1993. His early career encom- passed junior jobs in Manches- ter, Dundee, and Aberdeen. He returned to Dundee in 1979 to become Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist and then became Professor of Medicine in 1998. During a very active career, he held many different posts including Clinical Group Director for Medicine in the Tayside University Hospitals Trust. He did this extremely well during a period of great organizational change; he was feared by a few, loved by many, and respected by all. He also was a longtime member of the British Society of Gastroenterology and the Nutri- tion Society. Chris had a wide range of professional interests including the management of inflammatory bowel disease, the detection and management of disease-related malnutrition, and the use of artifi- cial nutritional support. Most recently, he was key in establishing the Managed Clinical Network for Patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition in Scotland. He contributed to several seminal textbooks and had many research publications. Of particular note was a landmark publication in the British Medical Journal in 1994, which is heavily cited, in support of the need for better hospital systems to detect malnutrition. One of his major talents lay in teaching and lecturing: he was a widely sought-after guest speaker and his presentations epitomized clarity and comprehensibility. Although highly critical of his own abilities, he reveled in sharing information and he had particular skills in encouraging others to contribute to a discussion. His broad yet practical understanding of nutritional issues and the high regard of his colleagues inevitably led to his being elected as Chairman of the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN). He brought to that body a new sense of direction, with emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of all aspects of treatment of disease-related malnutrition, including put- ting the patient at the center of the decision-making process. His contributions to BAPEN were consistent and significant, especially in producing task force reports on various aspects of practical provision of nutritional support. It came, then, as no surprise when he was asked to take responsibility, on behalf of BAPEN, for organizing the forthcoming ESPEN Congress in Glas- gow. He threw himself wholeheartedly into this enormous task, thereby gaining further respect and admiration from his European colleagues. He defined the objectives for the Congress and single- mindedly pursued them, with a clear vision for the program and with typical attention to detail. The predicted success of the meet- ing will be due largely to him. He demanded a great deal from his colleagues, but far less than he was prepared to contribute himself. He valued all equally, regardless of status, and despite his significant achievements, he retained an inquisitive mind, an unshakable belief in the truth, an impish sense of humor, and fundamental humility. These qualities generated respect and admiration from everyone who had the good fortune to work with him. Outside work, Prof. Pennington and his wife enjoyed good holidays, most particularly the time they spent in Africa. He played tennis vigorously at the local club level and had an extensive knowledge of steam engines. The last few months of his illness were lightened by his interest in photography and his passion for listening to classical music. The field of clinical nutrition has lost a leader with vision, a colleague with compassion, a mentor with time, and a friend who cared. He will be greatly missed and our sympathy is extended to his wife, Jane, and their daughter, Susan. Simon Allison Queens Medical Center Nottingham, UK Pat Howard Albany Medical Center Albany, NY, USA Alan Shenkin Liverpool University Hospital Liverpool, UK Correspondence to: Alan Shenkin, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Daulby Street, Duncan Building, 4th Floor, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Christopher Pennington Nutrition 18:997, 2002 0899-9007/02/$22.00 ©Elsevier Science Inc., 2002. Printed in the United States. All rights reserved. PII S0899-9007(02)00942-5
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Transcript of Professor Christopher Pennington, 1946–2002
IN MEMORIAM
Professor Christopher Pennington,1946–2002
The world of clinical nutritionwill be greatly saddened tolearn of the death of ChrisPennington.
Chris Pennington was theonly son of a Welsh Methodistminister, and he grew up inWales and the West Country.He studied medicine at the Uni-versity of Manchester, graduat-ing in 1970, followed by an MDin 1977. In the meantime hegained his MRCP (UK) in1972. He became an FRCP (Ed-inburgh) in 1983 and waselected FRCP (London) in1993.
His early career encom-passed junior jobs in Manches-ter, Dundee, and Aberdeen. Hereturned to Dundee in 1979 to
become Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist and thenbecame Professor of Medicine in 1998.
During a very active career, he held many different postsincluding Clinical Group Director for Medicine in the TaysideUniversity Hospitals Trust. He did this extremely well during aperiod of great organizational change; he was feared by a few,loved by many, and respected by all. He also was a longtimemember of the British Society of Gastroenterology and the Nutri-tion Society.
Chris had a wide range of professional interests including themanagement of inflammatory bowel disease, the detection andmanagement of disease-related malnutrition, and the use of artifi-cial nutritional support. Most recently, he was key in establishingthe Managed Clinical Network for Patients on Home ParenteralNutrition in Scotland. He contributed to several seminal textbooksand had many research publications. Of particular note was alandmark publication in the British Medical Journal in 1994,which is heavily cited, in support of the need for better hospitalsystems to detect malnutrition. One of his major talents lay inteaching and lecturing: he was a widely sought-after guest speaker
and his presentations epitomized clarity and comprehensibility.Although highly critical of his own abilities, he reveled in sharinginformation and he had particular skills in encouraging others tocontribute to a discussion.
His broad yet practical understanding of nutritional issues andthe high regard of his colleagues inevitably led to his being electedas Chairman of the British Association for Parenteral and EnteralNutrition (BAPEN). He brought to that body a new sense ofdirection, with emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of allaspects of treatment of disease-related malnutrition, including put-ting the patient at the center of the decision-making process.
His contributions to BAPEN were consistent and significant,especially in producing task force reports on various aspects ofpractical provision of nutritional support. It came, then, as nosurprise when he was asked to take responsibility, on behalf ofBAPEN, for organizing the forthcoming ESPEN Congress in Glas-gow. He threw himself wholeheartedly into this enormous task,thereby gaining further respect and admiration from his Europeancolleagues. He defined the objectives for the Congress and single-mindedly pursued them, with a clear vision for the program andwith typical attention to detail. The predicted success of the meet-ing will be due largely to him.
He demanded a great deal from his colleagues, but far less thanhe was prepared to contribute himself. He valued all equally,regardless of status, and despite his significant achievements, heretained an inquisitive mind, an unshakable belief in the truth, animpish sense of humor, and fundamental humility. These qualitiesgenerated respect and admiration from everyone who had the goodfortune to work with him.
Outside work, Prof. Pennington and his wife enjoyed goodholidays, most particularly the time they spent in Africa. He playedtennis vigorously at the local club level and had an extensiveknowledge of steam engines. The last few months of his illnesswere lightened by his interest in photography and his passion forlistening to classical music.
The field of clinical nutrition has lost a leader with vision, acolleague with compassion, a mentor with time, and a friend whocared. He will be greatly missed and our sympathy is extended tohis wife, Jane, and their daughter, Susan.
Simon AllisonQueens Medical Center
Nottingham, UK
Pat HowardAlbany Medical Center
Albany, NY, USA
Alan ShenkinLiverpool University Hospital
Liverpool, UK
Correspondence to: Alan Shenkin, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, Department ofClinical Chemistry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Daulby Street,Duncan Building, 4th Floor, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. E-mail:[email protected]
Christopher Pennington
Nutrition 18:997, 2002 0899-9007/02/$22.00©Elsevier Science Inc., 2002. Printed in the United States. All rights reserved. PII S0899-9007(02)00942-5
